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Period: to
US History 1990 to 2010
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Americans with Disabilities Act
Signed into law by President George H.W. Bush, prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment, transportation, and public accommodations. The ADA marked a significant milestone in the fight for equal rights and accessibility for people with disabilities, ensuring they have the same opportunities as everyone else (Parrott-Sheffer, Britannica) -
Collapse of the Soviet Union
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of the Cold War, altering global power dynamics significantly. The United States emerged as the dominant superpower, impacting foreign policy, defense strategy, and economic opportunities worldwide. This pivotal event reshaped the geopolitical landscape, leaving a lasting imprint on U.S. history and international relations for decades to come. (Britannica.com) -
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Signed into law by President Bill Clinton, granting eligible employees the right to take unpaid leave for family and medical reasons, including the birth or adoption of a child, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or attending to one's own health needs. The FMLA aimed to balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families, providing job security and promoting work-life balance. -
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
Signed into law by President Bill Clinton, enacting tougher penalties for crime, expanding funding for law enforcement agencies, and implementing measures to address issues such as gang violence, drug trafficking, and gun control. The legislation aimed to curb rising crime rates and improve public safety, but it also faced criticism for contributing to mass incarceration and disproportionately impacting minority communities. (brennancenter.org) -
Oklahoma City bombing
Domestic terrorists Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols detonated a truck bomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring hundreds more. The bombing, motivated by anti-government sentiment and extremist ideology, remains one of the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, prompting increased scrutiny of domestic extremist groups and calls for enhanced security measures (Britannica.com) -
Impeachment of President Bill Clinton
In December 1998, the House of Representatives impeached President Bill Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice related to his extramarital affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. The impeachment proceedings, initiated by Republicans, highlighted partisan divisions and raised questions about the appropriate use of impeachment as a tool for holding elected officials accountable (Kruse and Zelizer, 224-227) -
Y2K
As the millennium approached, concerns about the "Y2K bug" grew globally. The Y2K bug stems from computer programming shortcuts that represented years with only the last two digits, potentially causing malfunctions or system failures when the year changed to 2000. Governments, businesses, and organizations invested resources to address the Y2K issue, conducting tests, upgrading software systems, and implementing plans to ensure a smooth transition into 2000. (Kruse and Zelizer, 237) -
September 11 attacks
On September 11, 2001, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks orchestrated by the extremist group al-Qaeda shook the United States. Hijackers crashed commercial airplanes into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killing nearly 3,000 people. The attacks prompted a global war on terror and led to significant changes in U.S. foreign policy and national security agenda. (Kruse and Zelizer, 243) -
Hurricane Katrina
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region of the United States, causing catastrophic flooding, widespread destruction, and loss of life in states such as Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The federal government's slow and inadequate response to the disaster exposed systemic failures in emergency preparedness, disaster response, and social inequality, particularly affecting marginalized communities (Britannica.com) -
U.S. Financial Crisis of 2007-2008
The subprime mortgage crisis, fueled by risky lending practices, housing market speculation, and complex financial instruments, triggered a widespread financial crisis in 2007, leading to the collapse of major financial institutions and a severe economic downturn. The crisis exposed vulnerabilities in the global financial system and raised questions about regulatory oversight, corporate accountability, and the role of government intervention in the economy (britannica.com) -
Affordable Care Act
Signed into law by President Barack Obama, overhauling the U.S. healthcare system by expanding access to health insurance coverage, implementing consumer protections, and introducing reforms aimed at controlling healthcare costs. The ACA, also known as Obamacare, represented a significant milestone in healthcare reform efforts, but it also sparked intense political debate and legal challenges over its constitutionality and implementation (britannica.com)